Syria backs Hamas-Israel truce

New Delhi, June 18 (IANS) Syria backed the ceasefire between Palestinian group Hamas and Israel, and hoped that the Jewish state fulfilled its commitments under the agreement, said Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem here Wednesday. “We support the agreement (between Hamas and Israel). We are waiting to see if the Israelis adhere to the commitments of the truce,” Muallem told a Syrian journalist here.

The minister is in New Delhi to accompany Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on his five-day visit.

He added that Israel should immediately remove the siege on Gaza.

Earlier, Israel and Hamas had reached a ceasefire agreement, brokered by Egypt, effective from Thursday. Israel agreed to ease its blockade of Gaza from next week.